Chime battery clock with adjusting wheel for adjusting the movement thereof

ABSTRACT

A chime battery clock having an adjustable movement which can alter a basic movement to another desired movement, including an adjusting gear secured to an adjusting base which is slidably and rotatably secured to a front plate housing the movement. A conventional third gear engages a pinion of the adjusting gear while the adjusting gear engages a pinion of an escape wheel. Replacement of either the escape wheel pinion, the adjusting gear pinion, or the adjusting gear with another pinion or gear, respectively, of a different size in diameter but having the same sized gear teeth so as to insure proper intermeshing of the gear, and adjustment of the adjusting base, will alter the movement and facilitate achievement of the movement desired. The movement may serve as the basis of a clock from which other movements may be obtained, or by substitution of the adjusting gear and adjusting base for the fourth gear of an existing clock movement, such movement may be converted to other desired movements. Similarly, in lieu of utilizing a conventional third gear, as well as utilizing the adjusting gear in place of the conventional fourth gear, the adjusting gear may be employed in place of the conventional third gear, while a conventional fourth gear is used. In addition, the clock movement has only a single chime gear, and when converting non-chime clocks to chime clocks, only the single chime gear need be incorporated within the movement. Furthermore, although the clock movement of the present invention is disclosed as being battery-powered, other sources of power may be utilized, such as, for example, an electric motor, a hand crank key mechanism, a hand-wound chain mechanism, or the like.

United States Patent [191 Ajrulahi [11] 3,780,517 Dec. 25, 1973 CHIME BATTERY CLOCK WITH ADJUSTING WHEEL FOR ADJUSTING THE MOVEMENT THEREOF [76] Inventor: Mamut Ajrulahi, 7308 Parkwood Ct., Falls Church, Va.

22 Filed: Nov. 7,1972 21 Appl. No.: 304,478

[52] U.S. Cl. 58/7, 58/13, 58/46 R Primary ExaminerLawrence R. Franklin AttorneyNorman F. Oblon et al.

[57] ABSTRACT A chime battery clock having an adjustable movement which can alter a basic movement to another desired movement, including an adjusting gear secured to an adjus ti n g base l is 'slidably and rotatably secured to? front plate hobsing the movement. A conventional third gear engages a pinion of the adjusting gear while the adjusting gear engages a pinion of an escape wheel. Replacement of either the escape wheel pinion, the adjusting gear pinion, or the adjusting gear with another pinion or gear, respectively, of a different size in diameter but having the same sized gear teeth so as to insure proper intermeshing of the gear, and adjustment of the adjusting base, will alter the movement and facilitate achievement of the movement desired.

The movement may serve as the basis of a clock from which other movements may be obtained, or by substitution of the adjusting gear and adjusting base for the fourth gear of an existing clock movement, such movement may be converted to other desired movements. Similarly, in lieu of utilizing a conventional third gear, as well as utilizing the adjusting gear in place of the conventional fourth gear, the adjusting gear may be employed in place of the conventional third gear, while a conventional fourth gear is used.

In addition, the clock movement has only a single chime gear, and when converting non-chime clocks to chime clocks, only the single chime gear need be incorporated within the movement.

Furthermore, although the clock movement of the present invention is disclosed as being battery-powered, other sources of power may be utilized, such as, for example, an electric motor, a hand crank key mechanism, a hand-wound chain mechanism, or the like.

9 Claims, .6 Drawing Figures PAIENIEDnzczs ms SHEET 30$ 3 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to clocks and more particularly to an improved adjustable clock movement, for adjusting. the basic movement thereof to another desired movement.

For diverse reasons, it is often desireable to alter a basic clock movement to other clock movements, such as, for example, a Four-Hundred Day Clock, a Balance Clock, a Pendulum Clock with Chimes, a Grandfather Clock, a Grandmother clock, or the like. In conventional clocks however, such alteration is a complex and time-consuming procedure as various plates and gears constituting the movements transmission must be removed while other plates and gears appropriate to the movement desired are substituted therefor. Furthermore, in the instance of providing a chime movement to an existing clock movement, four or more gears have to be added to the transmission gearing. Consequently,

conventional clocks are quite costly, since asubstantial number of components must be acquired in order to construct the various movements as needed or desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved clock movement;

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved clock movement which is readily adjustable from a basic clock movement to another clock movement, such as, for example, a Four-Hundred Day Clock, a Balance Clock, a Pendulum Clock With Chimes, a Grandfather Clock, a Grandmother Clock, or the like.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improved clock movement which can serve ei number of moving parts than conventional clock movements.

A yet further object of the present invention is the provision of an improved clock movement which may be housed in a smaller, thinner casing or housing.

A still further object of the present invention is the provision of an improved clock movement which is substantially more economical to produce.

The foregoing objectives are achieved according to' this invention through the provision of an adjustable clock movement comprising an adjusting wheel mounted upon an adjusting base by means of a first screw. The adjusting. base is in turn mounted upon a' front plate of the clock movement by means of a-second screw and a bushing, the adjusting base being provided with a longitudinalslot through which the second screw passes. Loosening. of the second screw conse quently permits the adjusting base to be movably adjusted or positioned, either longitudinally or rotatably, relative to the front plate of the clock movement as well as to the other gearing when altering the clock.

movement by replacing either the adjusting gear, and- /or its pinion as well as the pinion of an escape wheel, with a respective gear or pinion of a different size in di ameter but which nevertheless has the same sized gear teeth so as to insure proper intermeshing of the gearing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Various other objects, features, and attendant advantages of the present invention will be more fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood from the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an im- I proved clock movement constructed according to this invention and showing its cooperative parts;

FIG. 2 is a schematic front elevation view, some parts having been removed, of the improved clock movement constructed according to the present invention;

FIG. 3" is a schematic view of the internal gear movement, some parts having been removed, of the improvedclock movement constructed according to this invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic rear elevation view, some parts having been removed, of the improved clock movement constructed according to the present invention; and

FIGS. 5 and 6 are views similar to that of FIG. 2, showing however the interengagement of various other components of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 1 and 3 thereof, a front plate 10 serves as an anchoring base for the entire clock movement. A center staff 12, upon which is mounted a rotor-type starter base 14, is inserted into front plate 10 to such an extent that starter base 14 rests upon front plate 10, whereby a rear portion 11 of staff 12 projects from the rear sur face of front plate 10 while a front portion 13 of staff 12 similarly projects from the front surface of front plate 10. Serially and coaxially mounted upon the projecting rear portion 11 of staff 12 is a wheel assembly comprising a core ratchet wheel 16, a center barrel wheel 18, in which is housed a main spring 20 which is similar to the main spring in an automatic watch, and a flange clamp spring 22. Center barrel wheel l8'also I contains an additional, circular spring ring, not shown,

whichprotects main spring 20, the'main springserving to work the entire clock movement for time and for contacting the switch for the chimes. Lock washers24 serve tosecure both the core ratchet wheel 16 and the flange clamp spring 22 to the rearward projecting portion: 11 ofstaff 12.

A transmission wheel-2 6, secured within both front plate 10' and a rear plate 28 by means of pins 27, has a coaxial pinion 29 which engages core ratchet wheel 16, transmission wheel 26 itself engaging a pinion 30' coaxially secured to a transmission gear 32. Similarly,

a single chime gear 34, having a pin 36, laterally offset but extending parallel to the axis of gear for actuating the lower extremities 38 and 40 of chime hammer staffs42 and 44, and secured within both front plate 10 and rear plate 28 by means of an axial staff 46, also engages the pinion 30 of transmission gear 32. A third gear 48 also has a coaxial pinion 50 which engages the center barrel wheel 18, the third gear 48 itself engaging a pinion 52 coaxially secured to an adjusting gear 54 which, in the clock movement of the present invention, acts in the capacity of a conventional fourth wheel, although for the purposes of the present invention, the adjusting gear 54 could also be substituted for a conventional third gear whereupon a conventional fourth gear would in fact be employed.

A screw 56 secures adjusting gear 54 to a flat, elongate adjusting base 58 in which there is located a rectangular slot 60 through which a screw 62 may be passed for threadingly engaging a bushing 64 which is secured to the rear surface of front plate 10. A rectangular slot 66 is similarly provided within rear plate 28 for affording access to screw 62, adjusting gear 54, adjusting gear pinion 52, and a pinion 68, with which adjusting gear 54 intermeshes, and which is coaxially secured to an escape wheel 70, wheel 70 having ratchet teeth 72 for engaging, in pawl-and-ratchet fashion, a verge 74 which is secured, within front plate by means of a pin 74, and within a substantially triangular shaped base 78 by means of a pin 80. Base 78 is, in

turn, secured to the rear plate 28 by means of a pair of fasteners 81 inserted through respective apertures 82 and 84, fasteners 81 also securing an upper pair of Z- shaped brackets 83 to front plate 10 (See FIG. 5) for mounting the clock movement within a particular clock case. Similarly, another pair of fasteners 81 secures a lower pair of Z-shaped brackets 83 to front plate 10, while still anotherpair of fasteners 81 (See FIG. 4) are secured between front plate 10 and rear plate 28, these fasteners merely acting in the capacity of spacers between plates 10 and 28.

Fixedly secured to the rear portion of verge 74 is a substantially Z-shaped pendulum base 86, a spring 88 being interposed between verge 74 and the forwardly extending upper portion 90 of base 86. A rectangular opening 92 is provided within back plate 28 for permitting the passage therethrough of forwardly extending portion 90 of pendulum base 86, a pendulum hook and spring 94 being inserted in an upward direction through a rectangular slot 96 located within the lower, rearwardly extending portion 98 of base 86. Pendulum hook and spring 94 is secured within a longitudinal slot 100 of stud holder 102 by means of a dowel pin 104 which is seated within a toothed rack 106 of holder 102 which in turn is secured within-the upper portion 108 of triangular base 78 by means of a nut 110.

A different movement can thus be obtained by replacing either the escape wheel pinion 68, the adjusting gear pinion 52, or the adjusting gear 54 with another pinion or gear, respectively, of a different size in diameter, care being taken however to be sure that the size of the gear teeth remain the same so as to insure proper intermeshing of the gear teeth. To replace the pinions or gears, access to these components may be accomplished through slot 66 within plate 28, whereby, in addition, screw 62 may be loosened and re-secured so as to longitudinally and/or rotatably position adjusting base 58 and adjusting gear 54, with its pinion 52, for proper interengagement with escape wheel pinion 68 and third gear 48, after replacement of the particular pinion or gear has been accomplished. In conjunction with the interchanging of the gears and/or pinions, the pendulum hook and spring 94 and/or the pendulums,

may also be interchanged. For example, depending upon the particular movement, either a heavy type pendulum 112, a medium type pendulum 114, or a light type pendulum 116, may be used, the pendulum being secured to hook and spring 94 via interengagement of the pendulum hook with the triangular affair 117 of hook and spring means 94. When changing the movement to a 400-Day Clock, pendulum 118 is substituted for pendulum base 86 and hook and spring 94, pendulum 118 being secured directly to holder 102 via dowel pin 104 such that a median forked member 119 of pendulum 118 extends forwardly so as to overlap, and be seated upon, verge pin 76. In the well-known fashion then, for each swing of pendulum base 86, verge 74 will release one tooth 72 of escape wheel 70, thus regulating the speed of the movement.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 4, rear plate 28 is provided for substantially enclosing the entire clock movement along with front plate 10, plate 28 including a substantially rectangular opening 120 for housing the movement drive motor 122, the sides of the opening, and consequently, the motor 122 itself, being skewed relative to the sides of plate 28. A substantially Z- shaped motor bracket 124 is secured to the rear surface of plate 28 and serves to mount the motor 122, motor 122 containing a central threaded aperture 126 for threaded engagement with -a motor bracket screw 128 which is inserted therein from the front surface of front plate 10. Motor 122 further includes a vertically extending threaded drive shaft 130 for engaging transmission gear 32, which is mounted upon the rear surface of rear plate 28, by means of a rearwardly extending shaft 132, (See FIG. 4) the pinion 30 of gear 32 extending forwardly through an aperture 134 within plate 28 for interengagement with transmission wheel 26 as discussed heretofore. A substantially Z-shaped transmission gear holder 136 serves to anchor transmission gear 32 relative to base 78, the rearwardly extending shaft 132 of gear 32 being inserted through aperture 138 of holder 136 while fastening screws 140 secure holder 136 to base 78 through respective apertures 142 and 144.

Disposed about the forwardly projecting portion 13 of center staff 12 and coaxially secured to rotor starter base 14 is a cannon wheel 146 which intermeshes with a minute wheel 148 which in turn intermeshes with a cannon wheel 150 coaxially mounted upon a pawl-like timer base 152 for controlling the chimes at the onefourth, one-half, and three-fourths hour intervals, as will be more apparent hereinafter, timer base 152 being secured to front plate 10 by means of dowel pins, not shown. A substantially L'-shapecl finger switch lever 154 is also secured to front plate 10, by means of a rearwardly projecting shaft 156, the blades 158 of rotor starter 14 engaging the vertically extending leg portion 160 of finger lever 154 which in turn engages the extreme right edge surface 162 of a substantially T- shaped arm chime switch 164 which is secured to front plate 10 by means of a pin 166, as shown in FIG. 2. Lever 154 is also connected to switch 164 via a spring 168.

A contact switch is comprised of a bushing 170, a contact switch member 172, and a screw 174 for mating with bushing 170, a two-piece insulating washer 176 separating the switch 172 from both the screw 174 and the bushing 170. Contact switch 172 is connected to one terminal of motor 122 through a rectangular opening 178 located within front plate 10, while the other terminal of motor 122 is connected to battery lead 180 of a battery 182, which may be, for example, a 1.5 volt flashlight battery. Battery base 184 is in turn connected via another contact 186 to screw 174 of the contact switch. Upon appropriate positioning of rotor blades 158, finger lever 154 will be actuated so as to intermittently connect switch member 172 and contact 186 so as to complete the circuit, battery 182 thereby energizing motor 122 which will drive transmission gear 32, transmission wheel 26 and core ratchet wheel 16 which will in turn wind mainspring 20, as well as drive chime gear 34 via transmission gear 32. Upon opening of the circuitdue to the further rotation of blades 158 and the consequent retraction of lever 154, mainspring 20 serves to operate the clock movement.

Chime hammer staffs 42 and 44, having secured thereto chime hammers 188, are mounted upon a shaft 190, disposed within front plate 10, in close proximity to chime gear 34 so that the pin 36 of chime gear 34 may actuate the staffs 42 and 44 upon every onefourth, one-half, three-fourths and hour interval, as discussed heretofore. A control base 192, which acts as a control for the chimes, is connected to the front of staff 46 of chime gear 34, while springs 194 connect staffs 42 and 44' to another shaft, not shown, for returning staffs 42 and 44 to their non-actuated position, as shown in FIG. 3. An hour time arm base 196 and a time arm 198 for the one-fourth, one-half and three-fourths hour intervals, are secured in parallel planes, to the front surface of front plate by means of a rearwardly projecting staff 200 and are arranged to mate, in rackand-pinion fashion with a forwardly projecting pin 202 secured to arm chime switch 164. Rotor 14 has four blades 158, three of which are the same length and correspond to the one-fourth, one-half, and three-fourths hour intervals, while the fourth arm is longer and it corresponds to the hour interval.

In operation, as the movement is actuated by mainspring 20, rotor 14 is rotated in a clockwise direction until one of its blades contacts the upper portion 160 of finger lever 154 which in turn actuates arm chime switch 164. As the blade begins to move lever 154 it breaks the circuit at contact switch 172 thus terminating the power to motor 122, and ultimately to transmission gear 32. Thus, rotation of chime gear 34 and control chime base 192 cease rotation, and consequently, the chimes are terminated. While the circuit is closed, the motor 122, via gear 32'also winds mainspring via interengagement with transmission wheel 26 and core ratchet wheel 16. As the power to the motor is terminated, the mainspring is not wound any further and the movement of the clock continues to work per the unwinding operation of the mainspring 20.

As the mainspring continues to unwind and rotate the rotor 14, the blade of rotor 14 that began to move lever portion 160 and switch 164 will continue to move the same until the pin 202 of switch 164 is moved far enough so as to permit time arm base 196 or time arm 198 to drop down or advance one tooth for each onefourth hour or full hour. At the same time that arms 196 or 198 advance relative to pin 202, the actuating rotor blade will slip past the upper portion 160 of lever 154 so as to permit lever 154 and switch 164 to return to their unactuated positions. Pin 202 of switch 164 will thus engage the teeth of arms 196 or 198, while lever 154 will close the circuit at contact 172 as discussed heretofore, thus once again allowing the motor to wind mainspring 20 and rotate chime gear 34 and chime base 192.

It is noted however that switch 164, with its pin 202, does not return to its fully retracted position as the pin 202 is now engaged with a tooth of arm 196 or 198, whereas, prior to such engagement, pin 202 was located beneath the lower surface 203 or 205, respectfully, of arms 196 or 198, thus permitting switch 164 to be located relatively closer to lever 154. Under such conditions, since control base 192 is located between arms 204 and 206 of switch 164 and adjacent another forwardly extending pin 208 of switch 164, pin 208 will engage a detent 209 which will thus prevent rotation of control chime base 192. However, when pin 202 of switch 164 engages the teeth of arm 196 or 198, pin

208 is removed from detent 209 so that upon motor 122 being actuated, and in turn actuating chime gear 34 and base 192, the latter will be permitted to rotate.

As base 192 rotates in a counterclockwise direction, still another forwardly projecting pin 210 secured thereon will rotate and engage the teeth 212 or 214 respectively or arms 196 or 198, while at the same time a cam surface 211 of base 192 moves pin 208, and consequently switch 164, to the left, thereby allowing pin 202 to disengage from teeth 212 or 214 as pin 210, by interengagement with teeth 212 or 214 lifts or retracts am 196 or 198, respectively, a distance equal to one tooth. Thus, as the cam surface 21 1 passes pin 208, and pin 210 retracts arm 196 or 198, pin 202 will re-engage the teeth 212 or 214. Thus, base 192, and chime gear 34 with its chime actuating pin 36, will rotate one revolution for each tooth of arm 198 or 196 which of course corresponds to a one-fourth hour interval or an hour interval, respectively, until the arms 196 or 198 are lifted the pre-determined number of times so as to permit pin 202 to engage the bottom surfaces 203 or 205 whereby pin 208 will engage detent 209 so as to prevent further rotation of control chime base 192 and chime gear 34.

As noted heretofore, rotor 14 has four blades 158, three of which are of the same length and correspond to the one-fourth hours, whereas the fourth blade is longer and corresponds to the full hour. In order to determine the number of teeth by which the arm 198 will advance, corresponding to the one-fourth hour, time bsse 152 has a number of different sized cam surfaces 216, which, in conjunction with a pin 218 secured to the rear surface of arm 198 will permit arm 198 to drop only a predetermined distance for each succeeding one-fourth hour interval so that upon reaching the onefourth hour interval arm 198 will drop a distance corresponding to one tooth, at the one-half hour interval the arm drops a distance corresponding to two teeth, while at the three-fourths hour interval the arm will drop a distance corresponding to three teeth.

Upon reaching the hour intervals, arm 198 is completely prevented from falling any distance due to the interaction of the largest cam surface 216 with pin 218. However, as the largest rotor blade 158 is now positioned so as to actuate lever 154 and switch 164, the pin 202 of switch 164 will consequently be moved toward the left a distance greater than that distance it is normally moved upon any of the one-fourth hour intervals. As a result of such movement, hour arm 196 is permitted to advance downwardly, relative to the pin 202, a number of teeth corresponding to the particular hour. Hour arm 196 is prevented from advancing at the one-fourth hour intervals due to the fact that its teeth 212 extend outwardly a greater distance than the teeth 214 of arm 198. Consequently, when pin 202 is moved only a short distance by the operationof the three shorter rotor blades, pin 202 will release arm 198 but will remain engaged with teeth 212 of arm 196.

It will additionally be noted that as chime arm 198 is retracted by means of control chime base 192 and its pin 210, pin 218 of chime arm 198 will contact the undersurface 215 (See FIG. 6) of a control time base 220 which, along with a control chime base 222 for the onefourth hour intervals, is secured within front plate 10 by means of staff 166. The left portion of undersurface 215 rests upon a flanged portion 219 of base 222, which is located to the right of pivot staff 166, the weight of base 220 thus normally biasing base 222 to an elevated position so that a locking notch 223 of base 222 may normally engage a forwardly projecting pin 225 secured upon hammer staff 42 so as to normally prevent'the actuation of the chimes. When reaching a one-fourth hour interval however, pin 218 will actuate base 220 as noted heretofore so as to raise base 220 which will in turn release base 222 by means of disengagement of flanged portion 219, thus permitting base 222 to drop, by means of gravity, and in turn release hammer pin 225 from locking notch 223, whereupon chime gear pin 36 may actuate hammer staffs 42 and 44.

Upon reaching the full hour, it will be recalled that the pin 218 is already engaged with the large cam surface of timer base 152 and is simultaneously engaged with base 220 so as to permit operation of the chimes. To determine the proper number of chimes upon the full hour intervals, arm 196 will advance relative to pin 202 of switch 164 by a mechanism similar to that utilized in conjunction with arm 198. An hour wheel 224 is coaxially provided upon staff portion 13, in a position which is forward of cannon wheel 146, for interengagement with a pinion 226 which is coaxially secured to minute wheel 148. Hour wheel 224 further includes a chime base 228 having a plurality of cam surfaces, which, upon interaction with a flanged projection 230 which is secured to arm 196, will permit arm 196 to advance a number of teeth corresponding to the appropriate full hour. A minute arm hand 232 and an hour arm hand 234 are serially and coaxially secured upon staff portion 13, at locations forward of chime base 228, by means of a nut 236.

If it be desired to operate the clock without operation of the chimes, the chimes may be locked. To provide for this, a forwardly projecting engaging pin 238 is provided upon hour arm 196 for engagement by an chime control arm 240, which, together with a control arm 242, is mounted upon the shaft 190 upon which the hammer staffs 42 and 44 are mounted. A substantially Z-shaped chime lock lever 244 has a rearwardly projecting staff 246 which is secured through front plate 10 and rear plate 28, chime lock lever 244 and control arm 242 being interconnected via a spring 248. Chime lock lever 244 further includes, a pin 250 which projects forwardly from the front surface of lever 244, for lockingly engaging a notch 252 of control arm 252, and a rearwardly extending arm portion 254 for engaging chime hammer staffs 42 and 44 in such a position that the lower extremities 38 and 40 of staffs 42 and 44 will not contact pin 36 of chime gear 34. Under those conditions when the chimes are inoperative, the motor 122 will wind one time at the one-fourth hour, two times at the one-half hour, three times at the threefourths hour, but only one time at the full hour, whereas when the chimes are operative, the motor winds once at the full hour for each hour, i.e., once for the first hour, twice for the second hour, and so on for the twelve hour period of revolution.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is to be understood therefore, that within the scope of the appended claims the present invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by letters patent of the United States is:

1. In a clock movement having an escape wheel, a third gear and a fourth wheel housed between front and rear plates, the improvement comprising:

an adjusting base adjustably secured to one of said front and rear plates for movement relative to said escape wheel and one of said third gear and said fourth wheel;

a pinion secured to said escape wheel and coaxial therewith; the other of said third gear and said fourth wheel being secured to said adjusting base for operatively engaging said pinion secured to said escape wheel;

another pinion coaxially secured to said other of said third gear and said fourth wheel for operatively engaging said one of said third gear and said fourth wheel; and

means for permitting the alteration of said clock movement to another desired movement by removing and replacing one of said third gear, said fourth wheel, said pinion secured to said other of said third gear and said fourth wheel or said pinion secured to said escape wheel with a third gear, a fourth wheel, a pinion for said other of said third gear and said fourth wheel or a pinion for said escape wheel, respectively, of a different diameter, and by adjusting said adjusting base with said other of said third gear and said fourth wheel and said pinion of said other of said third gear and said fourth wheel relative to said escape wheel pinion and said one of said third gear and said fourth wheel.

2..A clock movement as set forth in claim 1, wherein said adjusting base is an elongate member having an aperture adjacent one end for supporting said other of said third gear and said fourth wheel through a shaft thereof and an elongate slot in the other end for receiving a securing member for adjustably fixedly securing said adjustable base to said one of said front and rear plates, whereby said adjusting base is movable between said front and rear plates in a plane parallel thereto for repositioning said shaft supporting said other of said third gear and said fourth wheel.

3. A clock movement as set forth in claim 2, wherein said securing member comprises a screw member and means on said one of said front and rear plates for threadably receiving said screw member.

4. A clock movement as set forth in claim 3, further comprising access means in the other of said front and rear plates for permitting access to said screw member for adjusting said adjusting base.

5. A clock movement as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

at least one chime hammer;

a single chime gear having means thereon for actuating said at least one chime hammer;

a transmission gear having means for engaging and driving said single chime gear and for winding 21 mainspring for said clock movement; and

power means for driving said transmission gear.

6. A clock movement as set forth in claim 5, further comprising:

switch means for actuating said power means; and

means connecting said mainspring and said switch means for intermittently opening and closing said switch means.

7. A clock movement as set forth in claim 6, further lum. 

1. In a clock movement having an escape wheel, a third gear and a fourth wheel housed between front and rear plates, the improvement comprising: an adjusting base adjustably secured to one of said front and rear plates for movement relative to said escape wheel and one of said third gear and said fourth wheel; a pinion secured to said escape wheel and coaxial therewith; the other of said third gear and said fourth wheel being secured to said adjusting base for operatively engaging said pinion secured to said escape wheel; another pinion coaxially secured to said other of said third gear and said fourth wheel for operatively engaging said one of said third gear and said fourth wheel; and means for permitting the alteration of said clock movement to another desired movement by removing and replacing one of said third gear, said fourth wheel, said pinion secured to said other of said third gear and said fourth wheel or said pinion secured to said escape wheel with a third gear, a fourtH wheel, a pinion for said other of said third gear and said fourth wheel or a pinion for said escape wheel, respectively, of a different diameter, and by adjusting said adjusting base with said other of said third gear and said fourth wheel and said pinion of said other of said third gear and said fourth wheel relative to said escape wheel pinion and said one of said third gear and said fourth wheel.
 2. A clock movement as set forth in claim 1, wherein said adjusting base is an elongate member having an aperture adjacent one end for supporting said other of said third gear and said fourth wheel through a shaft thereof and an elongate slot in the other end for receiving a securing member for adjustably fixedly securing said adjustable base to said one of said front and rear plates, whereby said adjusting base is movable between said front and rear plates in a plane parallel thereto for repositioning said shaft supporting said other of said third gear and said fourth wheel.
 3. A clock movement as set forth in claim 2, wherein said securing member comprises a screw member and means on said one of said front and rear plates for threadably receiving said screw member.
 4. A clock movement as set forth in claim 3, further comprising access means in the other of said front and rear plates for permitting access to said screw member for adjusting said adjusting base.
 5. A clock movement as set forth in claim 1, further comprising: at least one chime hammer; a single chime gear having means thereon for actuating said at least one chime hammer; a transmission gear having means for engaging and driving said single chime gear and for winding a mainspring for said clock movement; and power means for driving said transmission gear.
 6. A clock movement as set forth in claim 5, further comprising: switch means for actuating said power means; and means connecting said mainspring and said switch means for intermittently opening and closing said switch means.
 7. A clock movement as set forth in claim 6, further comprising: means for permitting sequentially greater rotational movement of said single chime gear at the quarter hour, half-hour and three-quarter hour interval of each hour period of time, respectively.
 8. A clock movement as set forth in claim 7, further comprising: means for locking said at least one chime hammer out of engagement by said actuating means on said single chime gear.
 9. A clock movement as set forth in claim 1, further comprising: a pendulum; and means connecting said escape wheel to said pendulum. 